Matthew Robinson(I)

Matthew Robinson is a British-Cambodian television director and producer who, since 1966, has worked on a wide range of productions including drama series, plays, science-fiction, soaps and children's television. He was brought up in Huntingdon and, after graduating from King's College, Cambridge University with a degree in Economics, became a researcher for ATV (Associated Television). He then moved to BBC TV working on current affairs programmes such as The Money Programme (1966) and Nationwide (1969). He would progress to establishing himself as a prolific director of drama series and soap operas. His work on Coronation Street (1960), Emmerdale Farm (1972), Brookside (1982), Howards' Way (1985) and EastEnders (1985), as well as writing episodes of Crossroads (1964), earned him the tabloid nickname "The Pope of Soap".

After a number of years of directing drama productions, plays and soaps, he then tried his hand at directing science-fiction when John Nathan-Turner appointed him to direct both Daleks and Cybermen in Docteur Who (1963). Robinson directed the notoriously difficult to direct Daleks in Resurrection of the Daleks: Part One (1984), starring Peter Davison as the Doctor, and then a year later he returned to direct a new Doctor, Colin Baker, in Attack of the Cybermen: Part One (1985). Although science-fiction was not an area Robinson had previous experience in, these episodes proved nevertheless successful, with Robinson helping to bring enough visual style, tension, drama and pace to make them a couple of the most exciting adventures from that period of the series. On the strength of these it was hoped that he would return to direct a third adventure, "The Nightmare Fair", but this story was cancelled before going into production.

Robinson was an influential figure in the early days of the BBC soap EastEnders (1985), working closely with the show's creator, Julia Smith, in the casting of the actors from the outset and directing the early episodes. Robinson also brought Leslie Grantham to the series, an actor he had previously worked with on Docteur Who (1963).

By the end of the 1980s, Robinson began to concentrate on producing rather than directing. He had a great success with the long-running children's drama Byker Grove (1989), a series which aimed to bring important issues to the attention of its young audience. After Byker Grove (1989), Robinson returned to EastEnders (1985) to become executive producer from 1998 until 2000. In 2000 he became Head of Drama for BBC Wales, helping to establish its reputation as the BBC's new home for its drama programmes.

Never afraid of a fresh challenge, after three years at BBC Wales he brought his enormous experience in British television to tackling the social problems of Cambodia with the series Taste of Life (2004). Made by the BBC World Service Trust, the series attempted to provide important health messages, particularly regarding issues such as HIV/AIDS, but doing it with entertaining stories that would engage the audience. It is estimated that more than half the population watched the series.

Following his success with Taste of Life (2004), Robinson stayed in Cambodia and in 2006 established his own film and TV production company, KMF (Khmer Mekong Films). KMF has since produced hundreds of hours of TV drama for local channels, and 10 feature films in the Khmer language.

In 2020, on the recommendation of Cambodia's Minister of Culture, Robinson was awarded Cambodian Citizenship by Prime Minister Samdach Hun Sen.